The Julian calendar was instituted in 26 BC and caused so much bureaucratic irritation that it was called the Year of Confusion. Until 44 BC however, the month of July was called Quintilis or Quinctilis, the fifth month. (The Romans were not very creative people and in fact, the Romans were not even Romans. They were Etruscan and adopted the Roman culture in its entirety to the point of obscuring their own past.) July was renamed for the murdered Julius Caesar who was born on the 12th. This was the calendar of the west for the next 1600 years. July is sacred to Apt (or Apet), Athena, Sothis, Spider Woman, and Rosea.
The Irish name for this month was Iuil or an t-Iuchar, the border time. Traditionally during the last two weeks of July and the first two weeks of August, Sirius, the dog star, can be seen in the sky. The Anglo-Saxon name was Aeftera Litha, “after Litha,” or sometimes Maedmonat, “meadow month.” Hewimanoth, “hay month,” was the Frankish name, and the Asatru call it Haymoon.
The first Full Moon is called the Buck Moon. It is also the Blessing or Wort Moon and the Honey Moon, a name it shares with June’s Moon. It is also called the Moon of Claiming, Fallow Moon, Thunder Moon, a name shared with August, and Moon of Blood (due to mosquitoes), a name it share with October. It is sometimes also called the Full Hay Moon.
The sun passes from Cancer to Leo on July 23rd. The birth flower for July is the larkspur. Onyx, sardonyx, carnelian, turquoise or rubies are the stones listed for those born in July. The birthstone of Cancer is the moonstone or pearl, while Leo’s stone is the ruby, onyx, or smoky quartz. Albite, chrysoprase, emerald, green tourmaline, opal, pink tourmaline, and rhodochrosite are also significant to Cancers, and amber, carnelian, chrysocolla, citrine, fire agate, garnet, pink tourmaline, ruby, and topaz are associated with Leo.
July 1st
The people of India and Nepal honor a promise given by the Nagas, snake deities, with the Naga Panchami. Nagas control weather, especially water, and they can also cure or cause disease, bring good luck or bad, and prevent or cause death by snake bite. According to legend, a farmer once accidentally killed three baby snakes while farming. The angry mother snake entered his house and killed all but the daughter who put a bowl of milk in front of herself for the snake. The snake not only spared her life but offered her anything she wished. The girl wished for her family to be restored and for the snake to refrain from killing anyone else that day. This was granted and the snake slithered away. Snake images are displayed on religious altars, and offerings of milk, grain, and food are placed at the mouth of snake holes. Live serpents are carried through town or pulled around in pots on carts. Plowing and digging are forbidden.
In Japan, this day is sacred to Fuji, the ancient Japanese goddess of fire. Fuji is also regarded as the grandmother of Japan, and on this special day (which also marks the start of Mount Fuji Climbing Season) she is honored with prayers and burnt offerings.
Rain today meant rainy weather for the next four weeks.
In the Zoroastrian religion, Tir Jashan honors the spirits of rain.
Nostradamus died today in 1566.
Comments (4)
I really hope that tidbit about rain is not true! lol. The only thing it did today in Providence was rain. It didn’t really slow down…it just poured down.
*complex
Nostradamus died today? Aw.
I love your posts like this! Good history lessons
I love the info and am looking forward to next months on Leo.